{"id":2062,"date":"2025-06-06T19:32:25","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T17:32:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/the-sardine-run-action-has-arrived-on-the-kzn-south-coast-and-nows-the-time-to-visit\/"},"modified":"2025-06-06T19:32:25","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T17:32:25","slug":"the-sardine-run-action-has-arrived-on-the-kzn-south-coast-and-nows-the-time-to-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/the-sardine-run-action-has-arrived-on-the-kzn-south-coast-and-nows-the-time-to-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sardine Run Action Has Arrived on the KZN South Coast \u2013 and Now\u2019s the Time to Visit!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The annual Sardine Run, considered the \u2018Greatest Shoal on Earth\u2019, has arrived on the KZN South Coast, delivering one of the most spectacular ocean events of the year. To help first-time visitors make the most of this incredible event, South Coast Tourism &amp; Investment Enterprise (SCTIE) is sharing the best way to witness and experience The Sardine Run on the KZN South Coast.<\/p>\n<p>The KZN Sharks Board monitors the Sardine Run to keep a watch on the activity and remove shark safety gear ahead of the run for the animals to move freely. South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise (SCTIE) keeps in constant contact with the KZN Sharks Board, with regular updates shared via social media platforms (listed below).<\/p>\n<p>Wayne Harrison, of the KZN Sharks Board, said the sardines arrived on the KZN South Coast on Saturday, 31 May with lots of shark activity noted in Port Edward: \u201cNettings have taken place since first light on 2 June. It\u2019s been very active from Pennington through to the north of Scottburgh, with another shoal spotted at Pennington Main Beach on Thursday (5 June).\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is the Sardine Run?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Sardine Run is a remarkable natural phenomenon that takes place along South Africa\u2019s coastline during the winter months of June and July. While the exact timing of the run can vary depending on the water temperature, it is often heralded on the KZN South Coast by the blooming of aloes \u2013 a sure sign that winter has arrived.<\/p>\n<p>The Sardine Run is the mass migration of millions of Southern African pilchards (also known as sardines) forming immense shoals that can stretch for kilometres. The spectacle draws a host of predators, including dolphins, sharks, whales, seabirds, and game fish, making it one of the most thrilling marine events to witness.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How Can You Witness the Sardine Run?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe KZN South Coast is truly the best place to experience the Sardine Run, with local tourism operators prepared to welcome visitors,\u201d said Dr Vusumuzi Sibiya, CEO of SCTIE. \u201cWe\u2019re incredibly fortunate to have front-row access to this world-famous natural event, which has been showcased in numerous international documentaries. Whether you choose to watch from land, sea, or sky, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the spectacle, it all comes down to what suits you best!\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>There are several exciting ways to watch the Sardine Run on the KZN South Coast, each offering a unique perspective on this incredible natural event.<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>On the Water:<\/strong> For a close-up experience, charter boats are available to take guests out to sea, where they can watch the action from the deck or even dive in for a more immersive view through snorkelling or scuba diving at hotspots like the Marine Protected Areas, Aliwal Shoal ( a Mission Blue Hope Spot) or Protea Banks. Deep-sea fishing charters also give enthusiasts a front-row seat to the predator activity that follows the sardines.<\/li>\n<li><strong>From the Land:<\/strong> There are numerous whale viewing decks along the KZN South Coast that offer excellent vantage points. Popular spots include the Umtentweni Conservancy Whale Deck, Ramsgate Whale Deck, Impithi Beach Kiosk, and Umdoni Golf Club Whale Deck. Ocean-facing restaurants and bars in the area also provide a relaxed setting to enjoy a meal or drink while watching the spectacle unfold.<\/li>\n<li><strong>From the Skies<\/strong>: For a truly breathtaking view, consider taking to the skies in a microlight, helicopter, or light aircraft\u2014local pilots offer scenic flights that provide a bird\u2019s-eye view of the action in the water below.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t Miss the Sardine Run Events!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Ocean Festival<\/strong><br \/>\nDates: 5 to 8 June 2025<br \/>\nVenue: Scottburgh Main Beach<br \/>\nWebsite: www.oceanfestival.co.za | Instagram\/Facebook: @theoceanfestival<br \/>\nCelebrate World Ocean Day with beach clean-ups, educational talks, live music, sports, and entertainment. This year\u2019s theme is Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean &amp; Climate.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Run4Ramsgate<\/strong><br \/>\nDate: 14 June 2025<br \/>\nVenue: Ramsgate Tidal Pool<br \/>\nSupport: Run4Ramsgate on BackaBuddy<br \/>\nTake part in a 5km run or walk to help raise R100,000 for improvements to Ramsgate Main Village Street. Open to all supporters, local and global.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Offramp Fishing Competition<\/strong><br \/>\nDate: 22 June 2025 (Entries close 20 June)<br \/>\nVenue: Margate Fishing Pier<br \/>\nContact: admin@offrampexperience.com | WhatsApp 064 551 9049 \/ 073 795 4494 | Social: @offrampexperience<br \/>\nA competitive fishing event with categories for edibles and non-edibles across male, female, and junior divisions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. Sardine Festival<\/strong><br \/>\nDates: 27 June to 20 July 2025<br \/>\nTime: 10am to 2pm<br \/>\nVenues: Ramsgate, St Michaels, Hibberdene, Marina, Uvongo, and Margate main beaches<br \/>\nContact: michael@one-way.co.za<\/p>\n<p>This free, family-friendly festival offers beach volleyball, soccer, touch rugby, and games like treasure hunts and musical chairs, with prizes up for grabs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. Coastal Seafood Flavours Festival<\/strong><br \/>\nDate: 26 July 2025<br \/>\nVenue: St Michael\u2019s Beach, KZN South Coast<br \/>\nContact: hello@coastalseafoodfest.co.za | 083 722 7317 | www.coastalseafoodfest.co.za<br \/>\nCelebrate regional seafood culture with tastings, live cooking, and local heritage in support of the \u2018Fishing for Freedom\u2019 campaign.<\/p>\n<p><strong>6. MPA Day<\/strong><br \/>\nDate: 1 August 2025<br \/>\nWebsite: www.mpaday.org | Instagram: @marineprotectedareassa | Facebook: @MPASouthAfrica<br \/>\nA global event honouring South Africa\u2019s Marine Protected Areas. This year\u2019s theme, Making Connections, includes talks, ocean activities, and events highlighting Aliwal Shoal, Protea Banks, and Trafalgar.<\/p>\n<p>Now\u2019s the Time: Visit, Invest, Thrive in KZN South Coast!<br \/>\nFind out more about these and other upcoming events by visiting the KZN South Coast website www.visitkznsouthcoast.co.za; following South Coast Tourism on Facebook; South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise on YouTube; @infosouthcoast on Twitter or Instagram; and South Coast Tourism &amp; Investment Enterprise on LinkedIn. And click here to check out previous SCTIE press releases. Watch why KZN South Coast is a top tourism destination here.<\/p>\n<p>Follow the hashtags #nowisthetime #nowisthetimetovisit<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/mypr.co.za\/contact\/featured\/\">CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Author<\/strong>: Agnes Matladi from <strong>Olivia Jones Communications<\/strong><strong> on behalf of <\/strong><strong>SCTIE<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>MyPR<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The annual Sardine Run, considered the \u2018Greatest Shoal on Earth\u2019, has arrived on the KZN South Coast, delivering one of the most spectacular ocean events of the year. To help first-time visitors make the most of this incredible event, South Coast Tourism &amp; Investment Enterprise (SCTIE) is sharing the best way to witness and experience &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","autoblue_enabled":true,"autoblue_custom_message":"","autoblue_shares":[{"did":"did:plc:revymtt5qssww7e7avbruzic","date":"2025-06-06T17:49:45+00:00","uri":"at:\/\/did:plc:revymtt5qssww7e7avbruzic\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3lqxfhkufc52d","response":"{\"uri\":\"at:\/\/did:plc:revymtt5qssww7e7avbruzic\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3lqxfhkufc52d\",\"cid\":\"bafyreigiksccinc4xi43mbmjehrjcoj7bxuehvmzw3odfbrynugvlepz7e\",\"commit\":{\"cid\":\"bafyreielncxlore5kzsclq753kdsonbod5p4ihfuhnf26jlarducvtnlpq\",\"rev\":\"3lqxfhkupzv2d\"},\"validationStatus\":\"valid\"}"}],"autoblue_post_url":"","autoblue_publish_document":false,"republication-tracker-tool-hide-widget":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["type-post","category-news","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2062","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2062"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2062\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2062"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2062"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2062"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}